Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Community Foundation Grants

The 2012 Letter of Intent Process is Closed.

Organizations selected to submit full applications will be notified in March.

Background

The Community Foundation is committed to making grants that will have a maximum positive impact on Western New York. As one of the largest grantmakers in Western New York, the Foundation is aware of the importance that many organizations place on grant income and truly wishes it could support every worthy non-profit that applies.

Through its annual process, the Foundation receives close to 200 Letters of Intent (LOI). From this pool an average of 10% are selected for funding. A list of recent past grant awards is available in the right column of this page.

Foundation staff are always available for assistance, but please remember that this is a competitive process and therefore staff must maintain neutrality. Keep in mind that a grant is essentially an investment in your program. And just like with any financial investment, the Foundation will be looking for a solid return when the reporting comes due. It is suggested that you start planning for the end of the grant now in order to create a solid proposal.

Please review the solutions listed under the Foundation’s focus areas, available below. It is important that your program(s) address one or more of these solutions in order to be considered for funding.

Grant Opportunity

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations with programs that address one or more of the following four focus areas and the solutions detailed in the pdf below:

  • I. Increase Economic Self-Sufficiency for Low-Income Individuals and Families
  • II. Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities
  • III. Enhance and Leverage Significant Natural, Historic and Architectural Resources
  • IV. Strengthen the Region as a Center for Arts and Culture

NOTE: In addition to the four focus areas and corresponding solutions, special funding is available to support the following:

  • AIDS research and its cure (~$5,000)
  • Programs that serve the visual, speech or hearing impaired (~$5,000)

Eligibility

  • Grants are awarded only to organizations that have current Section 501(c)3 status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
  • Eligible organizations can receive only one competitive grant per year. On a limited basis, the Foundation will offer the opportunity for two-year support with second year support contingent upon year one outcomes.
  • The Foundation is receptive to requests that address advocacy, research and policy analysis aligned with the four focus areas.

Other Matters

  • The Foundation will consider the applicant’s board, including the diversity of representation, in the evaluation process. The ethnic/racial composition of the board of any organization should represent the community it serves.
  • The Foundation will consider allowing up to 10% of the grant amount for indirect costs.
  • The Foundation reserves the right to pay grants in a single installment or in “draws” at its sole discretion.
  • The Foundation requires that all successful applicants obtain three bids for any equipment purchase.
  • The Foundation requires that all grants be closed out within one year of the receipt of funds, with the exception of very limited two-year awards.
  • At any given time organizations can only have one open competitive grant with the Foundation.
  • The Foundation requires copies of invoices, cancelled checks or similar evidence to document the appropriate expenditure of grant funds. The use of grant funds for purposes not pre-approved by the Foundation or not supported through required documentation will result in a request that those grant funds be returned to the Foundation. The failure of an applicant to properly close out a grant will be a factor when considering new grants.

The Foundation will not consider competitive funding for:

  • Higher education scholarships (separate application, deadlines, and process)
  • Endowments
  • Religious purposes
  • Projects outside Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties)
  • Schools not registered with the New York State Education Department
  • Attendance at or sponsorship of fundraising events for organizations
  • Annual events or festivals
  • Any partisan political activity. Funds from the foundation cannot be used to support or oppose a candidate for political office.
  • Projects and activities that have occurred. The Foundation will not, except in extraordinary cases, provide payment or reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the funding decision being communicated to the applicant.

Timeline

  • Letter of Intent RFP posted online: January 1
  • Letter of Intent submissions due: February 1 (submissions must be sent electronically through this website)
  • Selected organizations notified to submit full applications: March 5
  • Briefing for those invited to submit a full application: March 7 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Selected organizations full applications due: April 2
  • Funding decisions announced: May

Contact

For more information about the Foundation's grant process contact Darren Penoyer by email or at (716) 852 - 2857.